Reach Out, Don't Quit Series

Evangelism part 1

Sharing our faith in the 21st Century

I would like you to name a few of these icons.

(show each slide on a separate page)

Almost all of us can recognise the logos. When doing research for this sermon I was fascinated that almost every logo we know is constantly being twicked, or slightly altered. They are always changing. Why?

Because companies know that if they do not embrace constant change and get their message out to a new generation they will die.

In Western society we can get excited about hamburgers, banking products and car engines to such a point we easily recognise different company logos. Even teachers got passionate this week about teaching. More than 6500 teachers stopped work to hold meetings at Langley Park and regional areas, forcing the closure of 46 schools across the state. This was on Thursday in nearly 40 degree heat.

Today I would like to speak about getting passionate for Jesus in the 21st century.

Matthew 9:35-9:38

According to the Australian Bureau of statistics

Australian society in 1901

40% of the population being Church of England,

23% Catholic,

34% other Christian

1% professing non-Christian religions.

2001 Census question,

27% Catholic,

21% Anglican,

21% other Christian denominations

5% non-Christian religions.

Just over one-quarter of all Australians either stated that they had no religion, or did not adequately respond to the question.

Between 1996 and 2001,

Catholic affiliates increased by 4%

Baptist affiliates by 5%.

However, as the Australian population grew by 6% during this period this is not enough.

The most notable decreases in Christian affiliation occurred for Churches of Christ (decreasing by 18%), the

Uniting Church (decreasing by 7%), and

Presbyterian and Reformed (decreasing by 6%).

An increase was seen for Pentecostal affiliation, which increased by 11% between 1996 and 2001 (from 174,720).

A substantial increase, associated with immigration from South Eastern Europe, was also seen for the Orthodox Churches, with the number of Orthodox affiliates increasing by 7% (from 497,015).

According to the American preacher Kirk Devine ‘the greatest problem facing us is not the gang problem on the outside, not the drug pusher on the outside, not the moral values of our youth, not ungodliness... Not unrighteousness, not darkness on the outside, not sin on the outside.... Let me suggest to you that the greatest problem facing us today is not what’s going on, on the outside... but what ain’t going on, on the inside…!!!’

Rev 3:14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God? creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm?either hot nor cold? am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ? am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.?But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Rev 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

A strong case could be argued that Australian Baptists have taken on the mindset of the Laodicean church, which was neither hot nor cold concerning the things of God… They went about their usual routine of doing things.

The fact of the matter is that they were in such a state, that the Lord Himself said that because they were neither hot nor cold, that he would literally ’spit them out of His mouth!’ And the problem is that our lukewarm churches of today are rapidly losing passion, which grieves the heart of God…

In the book, “Every Believer, A Minister,” Dr. Rex D. Edwards graphically paints the pathetic picture of far too many Christians today. “We sing the words of the hymn ‘Onward Christian Soldier,’ and wait to be drafted into His service. We sing ‘Oh, For A Thousand Tongues,’ but don’t use the ones we have… ‘Serve the Lord with Gladness,’ yet we complain when someone asks us to do something…”

But the bible lets us know that God has called the church to do more than survive...! God has called the church to do more than exist...! He wants us to move from a place of survival to a place of Revival. To a place where people come to church, not to hear a great sermon for themselves, but because they have brought their friend to church to hear the message of God’s love.